iPad with Retina Display: design and build

The fourth-generation iPad looks similar to previous models - a rectangular shape with rounded corners and edges.

It remains 9.4 millimetres thin, and weighs 652 grammes. The build quality is exceptional. Attention to detail is paramount and the iPad feels as premium as it always has. There's only one visual change to the design which comes in the form of the Lightning connector.

iPad with Retina Display: Hardware

The new A6X dual-core processor offers quad-core graphics and is supposedly twice as fast as the A5 chip found in the iPad 3 with twice the graphics performance. In our GeekBench 2 test we saw a new record of 1769, and in the SunSpider JavaScript test the iPad 4 managed a speedy average of 854ms. Amazing numbers.

The iPad 4 is a nippy device, then, but our real-world impression is that it's not much quicker than the iPad 3, however.

Graphics improvements are more noticeable, with a frame rate of 39 frames per second. The iPad 3 managed 22fps. This means that in Apple Maps pinch zooming is a little bit smoother.

Storage ranges from 16GB up to 64GB, with Wi-Fi and 3G/4G cellular data options. There's no microSD card slot for storage expansion.

The screen is 9.7in in size with stunning 1536 by 2048 Retina quality resolution. There's really no faulting the LED-backlit IPS display.

The Lightning conducter is small and reversible, and means you need to buy an adaptor if you want to plug it into any existing 30-pin accessories.

If you want, and can afford, 4G mobile broadband, then this iPad will cater for your needs, and Apple has upgraded the Wi-Fi.

iPad with Retina Display: Cameras

This iPad sports a 5 megapixel iSight camera, useful if you don't mind using a device as large as an iPad for taking snaps. A back-illuminated sensor should help in low light situations.

The front facing camera is a 1.2 megapixel FaceTime HD shooter capturing up to 720p footage.

iPad with Retina Display: Software

The iPad 4 comes pre-loaded with iOS 6 including Siri. Some recent and notable changes to the operating system include the switch between Google Maps and Apple's own mapping system – the firm's own-brand app has received heavy criticism for its many failings. Luckily there are alternatives out there in app form, or you can use Google Maps in Safari. Apple has also ditched the YouTube app but the service is available via the web browser.

Apps supporting the Retina resolution take up considerably more space than previous ones.

iPad with Retina Disply: Battery life

Once again Apple touts a battery life of 10 hours for the iPad 4 when browsing the web over Wi-Fi.

We found that using the iPad 4 heavily meant we needed to charge it at the end of the day. If you predominantly use a smartphone and use the iPad occasionally then it will stretch much further, a few days' worth is likely.

iPad with Retina Display: verdict

With 4G connectivity the iPad 4 is the quickest iPad yet and a solid choice for a tablet in which we can barely find fault. We award four and a half stars.